POTATOES.NEWSGlobal potato industry intelligence11,653 stories
The German early potato season has officially kicked off, with the first batches arriving from Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg—over a week earlier than last year. According to Lothar Meyer, a potato trader and early variety specialist, this year’s…
After the successful launch of the new technical guide on PCN, “A Guide for Managing PCN in Great Britain,” to members, GB Potatoes and CUPGRA have now released a free industry wide factsheet to summarise the key…
Recent laboratory tests commissioned by the consumer magazine Saldo compared pesticide levels in organic and conventionally grown potatoes. The findings were striking: none of the six tested organic potatoes (imported due to local shortages) contained detectable pesticide residues, confirming previous…
In April 2025, 180 schoolchildren in Graz participated in the Bio-Aktionstage, an initiative by Bio Ernte Steiermark, planting potatoes they will harvest later in the year. This program highlights a critical shift in agricultural education: learning by doing. Research…
Potato farming is at a crossroads. With rising fertilizer costs, stricter environmental regulations, and increasing consumer demand for sustainably grown food, growers must optimize nutrient management like never before. The traditional "one-size-fits-all" approach to fertilization is no…
Transitioning to organic farming requires meticulous planning, with soil health, pest management, and market access playing pivotal roles. Below is a detailed breakdown of the process across key potato-growing regions. USA/Canada: High Investment, High Reward Certification: USDA organic…
Organic potatoes command 20-50% higher prices—typically 0.50−0.50−0.80/kg compared to 0.20−0.20−0.40/kg for conventional—making them an attractive niche for commercial growers. However, the three-year transition period, where farmers must adopt organic practices without receiving premium prices, presents financial strain. Yield and Cost Shifts Yields drop…
The potato industry is poised for a significant event with the announcement that Mantra Agri Solutions will be the Title Sponsor of the Global Potato Summit (GPS) 2025. Described as a landmark gathering for the sector, the…
Conventional potato farming has taken a heavy toll on global soils. Decades of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and intensive tillage have led to: 1-2% annual loss of soil organic matter (SOM) (FAO, 2023) Reduced microbial activity, harming nutrient cycling…
The leaked draft of the European Commission’s Water Resilience Strategy has drawn mixed reactions. While it emphasizes nature-based solutions, it largely overlooks organic farming—one of the most effective tools for reducing water pollution, enhancing soil health, and improving drought resilience. Jan…
In Zhangjiachuan County’s Liujia Village, farmers are busy planting virus-free potato seed tubers, marking the start of a promising growing season. The process is highly systematic: workers carefully cut seed potatoes into uniform pieces, treat them with…
Potatoes are a staple crop worldwide, but viral and bacterial diseases can drastically reduce yields. Disease-free seed potatoes, produced through tissue culture and advanced propagation techniques, offer a solution. Gansu Dingfeng, located in Minle County, Gansu Province,…
